Letters, Feb. 20: 'Green' isn't always good, or bankable

Tesla Motors opened one of their 31 stores in Fashion Island in Newport Beach with an unusual marketing strategy, putting the car into a mall storefront. SAM GANGWER, THE ORANGE COUNTY R

A Tesla is displayed at Fashion Island in Newport Beach (Register photo)

ANAHEIM, J. Lowe: Tseming Yang, former deputy general counsel of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, illustrates the false prophecy of government intervention and manipulation of the “green-energy market” and the consistently misleading statements by these so-called experts [“Exploring energy possibilities,” Opinion, Feb. 19]. Yang correctly states that China is the global leader in manufacturing and in sales of clean-energy products. Why? Because they undercut the market and buy U.S. companies to create a monopoly.

For example, Yang cites Tesla as the “cutting-edge” of fuel-cell equipment. Last I read, Tesla is near bankruptcy and was paired in lockstep with A123 Systems batteries, which is already bankrupt, and, interestingly, in the process of purchase by, you guessed it, a Chinese company.

Further demonstrating the U.S. government’s attempt to manipulate the message and market of clean energy is an article about Fisker Automotive [“Fisker weighs bids, including from Dongfeng,” Business, Feb. 19], another company held up by the extreme environmentalists and the government as the wave of the future. Unfortunately, Fisker has not made any cars recently, because it, too, relied on A123 batteries as its only battery producer. Fisker is now seeking a buyer to avoid bankruptcy. Surprise! Yes, another Chinese company is leading the contest to purchase Fisker.

Besides being failed or failing companies, what do Tesla, A123 and Fisker have in common? They all received money from the U.S. government, aka, we the taxpayers.

In summary, we know this: Companies that are formed to push clean energy receive money from U.S. taxpayers, fail, are trumpeted by some in academia (usually environmental zealots), most likely will never pay the taxpayers back and then are absorbed by various Chinese companies. This scenario is more often the outcome rather than the rare case of companies that exist primarily because the government gave them money.

Pipeline trade-offs

CHINO HILLS, Amber Gordon: The proposed expansion of the Keystone Pipeline would cost the country $7 billion and has potential to create an enormous amount of jobs in the United States and in Canada. With boosts to the economy on both sides, and with the U.S. developing a conflict-free energy partnership with Canada versus the already-volatile relationships with nations of the Middle East, one would think expansion of the Keystone pipeline is a necessary project for the country.

However, many environmentalists protest further development. The pipeline’s long route allows opportunity for oil spills that threaten plants, wildlife and residents near the route. Also, the Canadian tar sands are nearly the size of Florida and produce excessive amounts of greenhouse gases, diminish air quality, destroy natural habitats and contaminate underground and surface water supplies.

So, when considering whether the nation would benefit from expanding the Keystone pipeline, one should question if the 50,000 construction jobs created, that are not permanent, are worth the pipeline’s potential to destroy the environment it will be running through.

Buss ‘built’ Lakers

SAN CLEMENTE, Phil Hoskins:The heavens are crying in Los Angeles today with the passing of Jerry Buss. He was a self-made man who brought joy to millions of Americans. But, let’s not forget that he was a rich guy who “didn’t build that.” He “didn’t play by the same rules like the rest of us.” He needs to pay his “fair share,” according to our dear leader. He didn’t build the roads outside the Forum or Staples Center. He didn’t build the water systems.

The Lakers are worth about

$1 billion. Inheritance tax (a wealth tax) is 55 percent, so Buss family, fork over your fair share, $550 million, to the federal government. The O’Malley family had to sell the Dodgers when Walter died to pay their taxes. Maybe we can expect the Buss family to do the same. No? Maybe they have a slick way that the rich avoid taxes – not paying their fair share.

What a tragedy that the government taxes wealth. Isn’t taxing income enough? It seems today that there is never enough for our rulers. Buss worked hard to grow an estate for his children. Why is he not allowed to pass it along to his children? So, pay the piper, Buss family. After all, Jerry “didn’t build that.”

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